1. to read, review or present something in a superficial way
Professional
Social
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If you 'skim over' something you read, present or review it in a superficial way without any in-depth knowledge or attention. This is an informal expression that you may hear in social or professional contexts and usually has a negative connotation. When you 'skim over' something you don't give a lot of time to the task at hand. Similar to 'brush over', but 'skim over' is more suited to reading. This idiomatic expression comes from the verb 'to skim', meaning to scratch or come into contact with the surface.